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flD. Xoiusa flDilbank 



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Cop^viabt, 1905 
ilD, ILouiea /iDtlbani^ 



LIBRARY of JONGKtSS 

JUN 23 li^U5 

COPY B. 



IW^r—acaai 



■4 






BeDtcate^ 

IN LOVING MEMORY 
TO THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED 

''beyond the shadows" 



tr C 



r C 
< «■ « 



Dost thou wish for sweet communion 

With that far-off Land ? 
Dost thou wish to feel the pressure 

Of an angel's hand ? 
Take thy chair beside the window 

And just close thine eyes; 
Let thy thoughts go back to dreamland, 

With thy tears and sighs. 

Let the time be just at twilight, 

When the day is done, 
When the Light is slowly dying 

For her love, the Sun; 
And sweet Eve is wrapt in silence 

For her lover, Night — 
All Nature bathed in peaceful calm. 

Fading fast from sight. 

Soon, soon thou'lt hear the rustle 
Of their heavenly wings, 



Soon, soon thou'lt feel a rapture 

And the bliss it brings; 
And thou'lt wait and watch a-tremble, 

For some presence sweet, 
That thou' St hoped and longed and yearned for, 

Yea — and prayed to meet. 



They are near; thou canst not touch them 

With thine outstretched hand, 
But thou feel' St the soothing presence 

Of that angel band ; 
Thou shalt see them in their glory, 

In their dress of gold; 
Thou shalt see them as none other — 

Eyes with love untold. 



And the air is filled with fragrance 

From their perfumed robes. 
Like the scent of gathered roses 

From ten million globes. 
Thou canst see sweet incense rising 

To that Heavenly Land ; 
Thou canst feel the faintest pressure 

Of thy loved one's hand. 



And thou whisper'^, in thy longing, 

"Just one moment stay! 
Art thou happy, Love, in going ? 

Just that one word say ! " 
And they gently draw cloud curtains, 

That thine eyes may see 
All the joy and bliss in Heaven 

Waiting thee and me. 



^ 



Zbc Sojourner 

Why do we wait and falter at the going ? 

Shall we not fly, as doth the white-winged dove ? 
Why do we pause and tremble on the threshold, 

Sure of sweet welcome to that Land of love ? 

Is this our world land of such glorious beauty, 
Rivalling that World of perfect joy and peace ? 

Love we so well its luscious fruits, its flowers, 
Its earthly passions, too, that soon will cease ? 

This world of toil, of pain and bitter sorrow; 

This world of care and wildest discontent; 
Thinking each day 't were better on the morrow — 

Oh! heart of Hope, what charm to earth thou 'st lent 

Some kisses make us think of treacherous Judas, 
Some fond embraces are the serpent's coil; 

There 's nothing real in art or "beauteous Nature" — 
The serpent throws a glamor for a foil. 

4 



The golden threads of day are only sunshine, 

The silver threads are from the pale moon's light; 

Can we not see the passing of the shadows ? 
Nothing is true but that which rings of right! 



The ravished heart exists alone, forsaken — 
The casket gone, the precious pearl is lost; 

Some trait' rous hand hath deftly reached and taken 
All that had worth — a gem of untold cost. 



I 've looked in eyes where all was blank and hidden, 
The restless surging of some unnamed sea; 

I 've pressed the hand whose heart was gently thrilling, 
Trembling — Ah ! sweet and precious this to me. 

Can we not sift the real from its drossness ? 

Shall we not taste the bitter and the sweet ? 
Can we not live true lives of closest friendship ? 

Shall we not draw the cords of love to meet ? 



We know so well we 're earth's benighted travellers, 
Sinking to rest on some enchanted spot, 

Lulled into sleep, with dreams, with rapturous visions — 
Our Father's House and Paradise forgot. 

5 



We dream of love, of life, but not of dying; 

When sun doth set, how rapid comes the night ; 
Oh, how we grope and wander in the darkness! 

Lost is our light, our strength, our power, our might. 

Rouse up my soul, awake! Let us be going! 

Stretch out thy wings and fly to Heaven's dome! 
Dost thou not know that earth 's the mystic portal 

Of Heaven, our hearts' true trysting place and home 

Oh, Land of bliss! ecstatic joy eternal! 

Oh, Land of rest for all our tired feet! 
Oh, Land untried, but sought for on the promise 

Our Saviour and our loved ones there to meet! 



IReeionation 

(to a friend in grief) 

Oh! teach our hearts to weep 

And not our eyes. 
For there can no one peep 

Or hear our cries. 

Oh! teach our lips to smile, 

Not utter dole. 
Abide with us awhile ; 

Thou wilt console. 

Hope then from eyes shall shine, 

As dew-drops lie; 
Thy heart so close to mine — 

Just thou and I. 

Our lips shall breathe a love 

Fixed as yon star; 
Our lips shall breathe a faith 

Doubt ne'er can mar. 



And we shall live to do 
Our Master's will; 

Submissive, Love, we two- 
His children still. 



rM 



8 



IDoicea 

(the mother's voice) 

My darling child, I cry to thee, 

I make my moan; 
Since thou art gone bereft am I — 

All joy hath flown. 

Both loved ones gone! Oh, barren world! 

I yearn for thee! 
Dost see thy Saviour face to face ? 

Oh, plead for me! 

I would be where thou art, my child. 

I wait, I cry; 
Waiting until my heart grows faint 

For time to fly. 

Time is a sluggard to the heart 

That longs for rest ; 
Time is as cruel as the grave 

To hearts oppressed. 

9 



And so I cry and make my moan 

To Him and thee; 
The nights are long, the days are drear- 

Oh! plead for me! 

(the saviour's voice) 

My child, look up, and let me see 

Thy faith and trust. 
I am the One that never sleeps; 

Correct I must. 

As sands upon the desert waste 

Thy doubts and fears, 
That blown about by shifting winds 

Unloosen tears. 

The heart must first be purified 

By hottest fire, 
Before the voice can ever sing 

To Heavenly lyre. 

Walk in the footprints I have left, 

This do for Me; 
The crown of thorns upon My brow 

I wear for thee. 

TO 



(the child's voice) 

Oh, mother, do not seek to know 

Or question why; 
Think it but bliss that God is near; 

Oh, smile, nor sigh. 

Thou griev'st the Holy Spirit, dear. 

Not me, I say; 
For I am far beyond the grief 

Of yesterday. 

His hand God presses on thy heart 

In love and grace; 
The blow He dealt will leave no scar, — 

'T is on His face. 

The pain and sorrow that thou feel'st 

Reflect His own ; 
Dear to His heart, sweet mother, thou 

To Him hast grown. 

Thou canst not reach the Heavenly heights 

Of Love divine; 
Thou canst not peer into the depths 

Of love not thine 

II 

L. oi: J- 



Until thou lean'st upon His breast, 

A little child; 
Until thou leav'st thine all with Him, 

Just meek and mild. 

Then, mother, pray that thou may'st join 

Our Heavenly Choir. 
Oh ! sing and wait in peace and joy; 

'T is my desire. 

Oh, sing sweet songs and wait for Him, 

Dear heart — and see 
What bliss awaits thee — do not fear — 

I plead for thee. 

With sweetness thou His praise shalt sing 

(Freed from all sin) 
Praise for the Resurrection morn; 

Life will begin. 

His glory we '11 together chant 

With one accord ; 
In glory we '11 together be 

With Christ, the Lord. 



r 



12 



Lost are the notes of my bird, 

Alackaday ! 
No more shall that voice be heard, 
Alackaday! 
Trilling its carols so gay, 
Thrilling all hearts with some lay, 
Cooing with tenderest art. 
Wooing the mate of its heart — 
Alackaday ! 

Oh! where has its sweetness gone ? 

Alackaday! 
Oh! where is the long lost song ? 
Alackaday! 
Come back, my song bird, come back! 
Every song shall one note lack — 
The joy and sweetness of love. 
My darling, my stricken dove — 
Alackaday! 



13 



IReveiic 

I sit in fantasy to-night 
Silent, alone; the dimmest light 
Brings out the phantom shadows bright, 
Of memories of days gone by; 
And so I sit in fantasy. 
So sweet. 



IN MEMORIAM 

Dreaming, before my eyes I see 

Those wondrous eyes that you and we 

Have loved and lost, and long to see — 

Those eyes of such a glorious hue; 

Eyes one could see had truly caught 

Cerulean tint while coming through 

From Heaven — that clouds had surely sought 

To hold him fast in their embrace ; 

That his surprise had left a trace 

Of wonder on his baby face — 

14 



Those eyes that always seemed to say 
In such a sw^eet, mysterious way, 
"Why am I here? Oh! why not there ? 
Heaven is so fair" ! 



A sturdy boy with kilted skirt 
Of silver gray — and how alert 
To watch each move of foot or hand. 
He looked a Prince of all the land; 
His heart was filled with childish pride 
Because his parents walked beside. 
Running before he oft looked round 
To measure length and space of ground 
With eyes his childish steps had traced ; 
Then with a smile of love — yea, more, 
Returned and walked just as before. 
But still that wondering gaze was there : 
"I had no care and Heaven is fair. 
Oh tell me, tell me, answer pray, 
Why am I here ? Oh ! why not there ? 
Heaven was so fair" ! 



And now I see him clad in white. 
In flowing robes, in golden light — 

15 



The same sweet smile, the same bright face, 
The eyes so full of love and grace; 
No wistful look, but joy and peace; 
So troubled hearts, your sorrow cease. 
I think I hear him softly say, 
"A thousand years are but a day 
For all — I am so happy here ! 
I feel no pain, I have no fear; 
I cannot call; I wait for Him 
To sound the note that frees from sin 
And sorrow, pain, and care — my own, 
I wait for Him, in loving tone 
To tell me, ' Here have come your own' 
In Heaven so fair." 




i6 



Coneolation 

His eyes were closed; he lay as if asleep. 
We kissed his sweet warm lips, nor dared to weep, 
And called him back with cries to earth and me; 
But oh! that heart was still — his spirit free. 

It hovered round him, leaving Peace so sweet 
Like fragrant flowers that our eyes did greet 
On winding sheet of purest white thrown o'er — 
But Joy hath flown and will return no more. 

I think of one who, with him — by his side 
With tender words of love that will abide. 
Gave comfort to his weary, fainting heart — 
God send her Peace, of life the better part. 

And one who read a prayer for weary feet, 
Bade angels take his hand — with wings so fleet 
They came that summer morn — a seraph band — 
And led him gently to that Heavenly Land. 

17 



Oh, memory sweet of such a death and life! 
At rest from toil and care, from earthly strife, 
I know he 's gone before us to prepare 
Some spirit mansion that we all shall share. 

Say I prepare ? Ah ! that was surely done 
Ere earth was made, or stars, or moon, or sun — 
And so God took our loved, our dearest, best, 
And bids us follow — that shall be our quest. 

And we shall meet him when our day is done — 
The light grows dim, shade follows setting sun. 
At twilight, Dear, we '11 meet you on that shore 
Where God is Love — Love lives forevermore. 



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